DOMAINE REGIS FOREY
Vosne-Romanée
Domaine Forey was established in Vosne-Romanée in 1840 by Régis Forey’s great-grandfather. Régis joined his father, Jean, at the Domaine in 1987. Two years later Régis took full control of the Domaine.
With holdings in Vosne-Romanée, Flagey-Echezeaux, and Nuits-Saint-Georges, the Forey family has vines in some of the best vineyards in Burgundy. Their flagship bottling is without a doubt their Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Gaudichots, surrounding the climat of La Tâche.
Foreseeing the end of their lease of the very famous, Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru, La Romanée, property of the Liger-Belair family in 2001, Regis Forey expanded the estate by acquiring parcels in the Grand Cru Echézeaux as well as parcels in the villages of Vougeot and Morey-Saint-Denis.
Today, Régis Forey farms about 10 hectares of vineyards; 5 as proprietaire and 5 through the systems of fermage and metayage.
The wines produced by Jean Forey were charming, full of elegance and finesse. Following his father's footsteps, Régis crafts charming and fine wines while however incorporating more masculinity and roundness into the wines leading to exceptional concentration and depth. On the palate, it is always an explosion of succulent fruit structured by the singular complexity of each terroir and a length that tells a lot about the aging potential.
In the Vineyard
Regis Forey has been practicing organic farming since 2016 and he had stopped the use of herbicide since 1992.
The vines are planted at the density of 10,000 vines per hectare and are trained in Guyot. Ploughing is carried out every year to keep the soils healthy and promote the vertical growth of the roots. In the tiny parcel of Les Gaudichots the soils are worked by horse.
The yields are controlled through severe pruning in winter and de-budding in spring. On average the yields are 40-55 hl/ha.
Harvest is done manually.
In the Cellar
The grapes are partially de-stemmed, 30 to 70% depending on vintage and cuvée, upon arrival in the cellar.
The grapes then go through 3 to 4 days of cold maceration. The cuvaison continues for 3 to 4 weeks, and pigeage is performed more or less regularly depending on the overall conditions of the vintage.
The wines are put into barrels for 16 to 20 months. Regis Forey uses up to 80% of new oak on his Grands Crus and 1er Crus but uses large barrels for his village wines to allow better integration of the oak. There is only one racking during this period and all wines rest on their fine lees until assemblage prior to bottling.
The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Clos De Vougeot Grand Cru
This Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from a small parcel in the northern part of the Montiotes Basses section of the Clos. One part of the vines was planted in 1968 and another part in 1972.
Echézeaux Grand Cru
This cuvée comes from 0.3 hectares of vines in the climats of “Les Treux” and “Clos Saint-Denis”. One-third of the vines were planted in 1949 with the rest being planted in two waves: 1974 and again in 2004. Only 1,200 bottles every year.
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Les Gaudichots
Regis Forey looks after 0.3 hectares of vines in the small climat of Les Gaudichots that counts in total 0.8 hectares of vines.
Forey’s plot was planted in 1930 but it’s not until the 1983 vintage that the family decided to bottle it on its own.
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru
Les Petits Monts
Regis Forey looks after a mere 0.19 hectares of vines in this elite lieu-dit, which is situated just above Richebourg. The vines here were planted in 1970.
Vosne-Romanée Village
This Vosne-Romanée village is made from 14 separate parcels, mostly in the northern sector of the appellation. The vines were planted between 1942 and 1974.
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Les Perrières
Les Perrières is one of the great vineyards of Nuits. The Forey family has owned 0.42 hectares of vines here for many generations. The vines were planted between 1937 and 1942.
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru
Les-Saints-Georges
Les Saints Georges is often considered to be the finest climat in the entire appellation of Nuits-Saint-Georges. This cuvée comes from one-fifth of a hectare. The vines were planted in 1933.
Nuits-Saint-Georges Village
This village wine is made from a total of 1 hectare of 60-year-old vines coming from 3 different lieux-dits. The two primary parcels are in “Plantes Aux Barons” and “Charbonnieres”, both of which are in Prémeaux on its northern border with Nuits.
Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru
This Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru is made from a tine plot of 50-year-old vines The single parcel crosses the boundary of two 1er Crus: “Les Blanchards” and “Clos Baulet”.
Morey-Saint-Denis Village
This Morey-Saint-Denis village mostly comes from the lieu-dit “Clos Solon” but also includes grapes from the lieu-dit “Les Crais”. The vines were planted in 1966 and another section in 1986.
Bourgogne Rouge
This Bourgogne Rouge is an assemblage of parcels in Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges.
